Democratic agreement on budget expected Thursday

June 25, 2009 8:11:57 AM PDT

June 25, 2009 (MADISON, Wis.) --

A budget agreement reached in secret by Democratic leaders of the state Legislature is expected to be made public on Thursday.A bipartisan conference committee was expected to vote on the plan in the morning before it heads to the full Senate in the afternoon. The committee met for the first time Wednesday night, but Democrats refused to let Republicans offer any changes to the budget.

The committee is needed to work out differences between the budgets passed earlier this month by the Senate and Assembly.

Republicans are powerless to stop Democrats, who hold majorities in both houses.

Republicans argue the committee is a sham, since Democrats have been meeting in secret for a week to reach a deal. Democrats say the process is open.